Spectral filtering of visible light by the cuticle of metallic woodboring beetles and microfabrication of a matching bioinspired material

Vigneron, Jean Pol; Rassart, Marie; Vandenbem, Cédric; Lousse, Virginie; Deparis, Olivier; Biró, L. P.; Dedouaire, Daniel; Cornet, Alain; Defrance, Pierre

doi:10.1103/physreve.73.041905

Cited by 82 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Similar layered structures have been demonstrated to exist in other Buprestidae, e.g. the jewel beetles Chrysochroa vittata [6,7], Chrysochroa fulgidissima [8,9] and Chrysochroa raja [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Polarized iridescence of the multilayered elytra of the Japanese jewel beetle,Chrysochroa fulgidissima

Stavenga

Wilts

Leertouwer

et al. 2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

145

154

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The elytra of the Japanese jewel beetle Chrysochroa fulgidissima are metallic green with purple stripes. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that the elytral surface is approximately flat. The accordingly specular green and purple areas have, with normal illumination, 100 -150 nm broad reflectance bands, peaking at about 530 and 700 nm. The bands shift progressively towards shorter wavelengths with increasing oblique illumination, and the reflection then becomes highly polarized. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the epicuticle of the green and purple areas consists of stacks of 16 and 12 layers, respectively. Assuming gradient refractive index values of the layers between 1.6 and 1.7 and applying the classical multilayer theory allowed modelling of the measured polarization-and angle-dependent reflectance spectra. The extreme polarized iridescence exhibited by the elytra of the jewel beetle may have a function in intraspecific recognition.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Polarized iridescence of the multilayered elytra of the Japanese jewel beetle,Chrysochroa fulgidissima

Stavenga

Wilts

Leertouwer

et al. 2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

145

154

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“…Multilayers exist in the exocuticle of many species, including birds, beetles and damselflies (e.g. Kurachi et al 2002;Prum 2006;Vigneron et al 2006;Land et al 2007;Kinoshita et al 2008). The layers are seen in TEM images of these species' cross sections as alternating layers of greyscale that are associated with regions which are more or less electron dense.…”

Section: Multilayer Thin Filmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems

Vukusic

Stavenga

2009

J. R. Soc. Interface.

163

153

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Many biological systems are known to use structural colour effects to generate aspects of their appearance and visibility. The study of these phenomena has informed an eclectic group of fields ranging, for example, from evolutionary processes in behavioural biology to micro-optical devices in technologically engineered systems. However, biological photonic systems are invariably structurally and often compositionally more elaborate than most synthetically fabricated photonic systems. For this reason, an appropriate gamut of physical methods and investigative techniques must be applied correctly so that the systems' photonic behaviour may be appropriately understood. Here, we survey a broad range of the most commonly implemented, successfully used and recently innovated physical methods. We discuss the costs and benefits of various spectrometric methods and instruments, namely scatterometers, microspectrophotometers, fibre-optic-connected photodiode array spectrometers and integrating spheres. We then discuss the role of the materials' refractive index and several of the more commonly used theoretical approaches. Finally, we describe the recent developments in the research field of photonic crystals and the implications for the further study of structural coloration in animals.

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“…In recent years the optical properties of a number of such scarab beetles were studied [3][4][5][6]. In all the cases where reflection spectra were recorded these invariably showed relatively smooth broad structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unusual coloration in scarabaeid beetles

Brink

Berg

Prinsloo

et al. 2007

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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In this paper we investigate the reflection of circularly polarized light from the exocuticle of the scarabaeid beetle Gymnopleurus virens. Reflection spectra are deeply modulated, exhibiting a number of relatively narrow well-defined peaks, which differ from previously studied specimens. By comparing model calculations and electron microscopy work with the recorded spectra, we can propose the presence of specific structural defects responsible for the unusual spectra.

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Spectral filtering of visible light by the cuticle of metallic woodboring beetles and microfabrication of a matching bioinspired material

Cited by 82 publications

References 10 publications

Polarized iridescence of the multilayered elytra of the Japanese jewel beetle,Chrysochroa fulgidissima

Polarized iridescence of the multilayered elytra of the Japanese jewel beetle,Chrysochroa fulgidissima

Physical methods for investigating structural colours in biological systems

Unusual coloration in scarabaeid beetles

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